Mysterious Moors – Scenic, Spooky Destinations for Your Trip to Britain

Your imagination was caught by Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights. You want to bring atmosphere, adventure and romance to your upcoming vacation in Great Britain. Your plans include city life – why not include a change of pace? Pack your scarf, put some film in your camera and consider adding a trip to England and Scotland’s beautiful, mysterious moors to your travel itinerary.

What Is a Moor, Anyway?

Moors, or heathlands, are lowland habitats found in Western and Northern Europe. Fabled for their lonely landscape, moors feature low, rolling hills covered in heather, bogs and grassy areas. These mysterious, often desolate landscapes might already be familiar to you – they lent atmosphere to the BrontÃ?«s’ gothic fiction and the beloved children’s classic The Secret Garden.

Britain’s Famous Moors

North York Moors National Park in Northern England is Britain’s largest expanse of heather moorland and is open to tourists for biking, hang gliding, walking and horse riding. In addition, a historic steam railway crosses from Pickering to Grosmont and is a great day trip. Try a visit to quaint Whitby – which features ancient abbey ruins and a Dracula museum – to keep up the spooky mood.

If you’re considering a visit to Scotland, don’t miss the historic Scottish Highlands, a scantly populated mountain region. Try hiking part of the West Highland Way, which passes abandoned railways, ancient ruins and culminates at Loch Lomond.

If ancient history fascinates you, plan a visit to Bodmin Moor in Cornwall, England. This moor features prehistoric rock circles and barrows (mounds covering prehistoric burial grounds).

Where To Stay

Since the moors are sparsely populated, good planning is key. The Yorkshire district, with its plentiful historic towns and villages, is a good bet for charming accommodations. Try renting a holiday cottage for a taste of country life – you can shop for groceries in neighboring hamlets and listen to the wind “wuther” and howl in the privacy of your own autonomous abode. If hotel life is more your style, consider a cozy bed and breakfast or country inn.

If you’ve envisioned an English vacation drenched in rich greens, mysterious fogs and soothing heather, a trip to Britain’s moorlands might be in your future.